or Kanna-zuki. The 'month without kami', from October 11 when all the kami (except those who are deaf and do not hear the summons, such as Ebisu) having completed their work protecting the harvest are seen off from their shrines and make a tour to Izumo. In Izumo, this period is consequently known as kami-arizuki or 'the month of kami'. The period may correspond to the month known as saigetsu, the precarious month of abstinence before the harvest was secured when according to the Engi-shiki burial and reburial and other practices were tabooed and the Taoist custom of worshipping the North star as the Heavenly Emperor was prohibited.

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Izumo taisha — Or Izumo o yashiro. The Grand shrine of Izumo, which enshrines a kami known popularly as daikoku sama, i.e. O kuni nushi ( Great land ). It is popular among young couples for bestowing ryoen (good marriage). In the month of October by the… … A Popular Dictionary of Shinto

Ebisu — One of the shichi fuku jin, Ebisu is an extremely popular deity of prosperity thought originally to have come from the sea bringing blessings from a distant country. He is closely linked with Daikoku and variously identified with the Buddhist… … A Popular Dictionary of Shinto

Aki-matsuri — Autumn festivals. A broad category of matsuri overlapping with natsu (summer) matsuri. They are held in late summer/ autumn mainly to thank the kami for the rice or other harvest. In the past aki matsuri were often preceded by a month of taboo … A Popular Dictionary of Shinto